Thermoelectric marker



Feb. 10, 1942. D. H. SCHWEYER 2,272,780

THERMOELECTR I C MARKER Filed June 12, 1939 Patented Feb. 10, 1942THERMOELECTRIC MARKER Daniel H. Schweyer, Easton, Pa.

Application June 12, 1939, Serial No. 278,623

4 Claims.

This invention relates to marker instruments that may be used forapplying a colored fluid to fabrics or other articles for marking themin any manner desired. The invention includes a marker instrument whichis provided with a fusible marker compound which is normally in a solidstate but which is reduced to a fluid state for application purposes bythe use of an electric heating element incorporated in the instrument.The instrument is provided with a nozzle having a liquid chamber forreceiving the melted compound and which is released in a fiuld state bya ball valve on the point of the instrument. The invention also includesmeans for feeding the fusible compound to the electric heater; a.radiator in the liquid chamber heated by the electric heater formaintaining the fluid in a liquid state as it is used. The inventionalso includes a heat insulating medium for the shell of the device sothat it can be conveniently used by the operator.

These and other objects of the invention will be more particularlyunderstood from the following specification and the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of one form of a thermo-electric markerembodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of another form of the device, and

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

This invention is for use with a solid marking compound which is appliedin the liquid state but which, normally, remains solid and can be asconveniently used as a markin crayon or pencil. The marking compoundcontains a mixture having the required color pigment and a binder thathas a quick break in viscosity which will readily flow through a smallorifice. It should not soften below 130 degrees C. The binder may be aresin which, after application, will solidify into a thin film which isreasonably flexible and will hold on fabric. A fiexilizer may be addedto the compound to increase its fiexibility and this will dependsomewhat on the degree to which the compound will fuse. For ordinarypurposes, and when applied to a fabric, the melting point should beabove the heat of the water in which the fabric may be processed but themelting point must be within the range of the electric heating elementwith which the instrument is provided.

The instrument comprises a tubular holder which forms a handle for themarking device corresponding to the handle of a pen and the end isprovided with a nozzle having a ball valve by which the markingcompound, in a liquid state, is released for marking purposes. Themarking compound is located in the tubular holder and is forced forwardto the nozzle by a spring. The nozzle, or the writing end of theinstrument is provided with an electric heating element which isconnected in circuit when the instrument is in use and which fuses thecompound at the nozzle, filling a chamber in the nozzle with liquid tobe used through the ball valve. The liquid chamber is provided with aradiator which maintains the liquid that has been melted in aliquidstate as it is used for marking purposes.

In one form of the device the electric heating element is located insidethe tubular holder and has a central conduit for the electric conductorsaround which the marking compound is placed. In another form acylindrical marking compound is located in the tubular holder, outsidethe tubular holder the electric heating element is placed and outsidethe heating element a heat insulation is provided to enable the operatorto use the instrument in the heated state.

In the drawing, II is the nozzle which is provided with the point I2,having a spring seated ball valve II which connects with the liquidchamber ll in the nozzle and in which chamber the radiator l5, connectedwith the electric heating element It projects and provides the heatnecessary to maintain the compound in chamber ll in a liquid state. Acentral tube I! passes through the holding tube 23 and connects with theheating element It, the electric conductors I! for the heating elementmay be located in tube l'l. Around the tube I! the fusible markingcompound is placed as indicated by the semicylindrical members I9 and20, Fig. 3. These members are split longitudinally so that they can bereplaced without threading on th central tube ll. These members are heldin place by the cup shaped washer 2| which may be provided with a heatinsulated washer 22 to prevent the spread of the heat from the compoundto the outer end of the instrument. The shell or holder 23 is providedwith screw cap 24, having an orifice through which the tube l1 passesand which engages the coil spring 25, located between the cap 24 and thewasher 2| to feed the compound I8, 20, to the nozzle as it is meltedaway by the electric heater l8 located at the discharge end of thedevice. There is a clearance between the heater l6 and the tube 23 andalso between the members I 9 and 20 and the tube 23 which enables thefused compound to flow into the chamber I4.

Opposite the marking compound the device is heat insulated as indicatedby the insulating jacket 21 around the tube 23 and held in place by thecylindrical cover 26. This jacket is supported by collar 35 on the tube23 and tapers around the nozzle H a indicated to insulate the portion ofthe instrument where the heat is applied. The heater is located at thepoint of the instrument and away from the body which forms the handle.

In the construction of Fig. 4 the electric heating element 36 is appliedto the outside of the tubular holder 23 and is held in place by thejacket 32. Over this jacket the heat insulator 21 is placed and is heldin place by the cylindrical cover 34. This construction is held in placeby the collar 33 at the outer end and by the collar 35 at the pointedend. The conductor 31, leading to the heating element 36 is controlledby the spring switch 38, connecting with conductor 39, embodied in thecircuit of the electric heater so that when the device is not in use thecircuit of the heater is automatically opened.

Th nozzle II is provided with radiating fins |5a opening into thechamber a of the nozzle to fuse the compound 3| which is fed forward bythe cup shaped washer 2| and spring 25. The tension of spring 25 on thecompound 3| is regulated by stem 3|, connected to 2| and adjusted by theknurled nut 40. This prevents the nozzle from overfeeding and chokingwith the partially melted compound.

The marking compound for this device can be manufactured and stored in asolid state and does not deteriorate. The semi-circular form of thecompound indicated in Fig. 3 enables the compound to be replaced aroundthe tube |1 without interfering with the electrical connections.

This invention relates to the general type of marking instruments shownin co-pending application 245,890 filed December 15, 1938.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A marker instrument comprising a cylinder holder for holding anddirecting the instrument,

an electric heating element limited to the discharge end oi said holderand of a size to substantially fill the cylinder, a central tubeconnected with said heating element and in which the electric conductorsfor the heating element are located, a fusible marking compound in saidcylinder in rear of the heating element and exposed to said heatingelement to liquefy the compound in said tube and a nozzle at thedischarge end of said tube for applying the marker in the fluid state.

2. A marker instrument comprising a tubular holder for holding anddirecting the instrument having a nozzle at one end and a chamberconnecting with said nozzle, an electric heating element, a radiatorhaving fins extending into said chamber adjacent the nozzle and heatedby said heating element, a fusible marking compound in said holderhaving one end exposed to the heating element and the fused materialexposed to said radiator to liquefy the marker material as it is appliedto said nozzle.

3. A marker instrument comprising a tubular holder having a nozzle atone end, an electric heater associated with said nozzle, a centralmember in said holder, a plurality of fusible marking bars in saidholder, a cup-shaped member holding said bars in place and a springengaging said member and said holder for forcing said bars into saidnozzle to fuse said bars for application by said nozzle, said centralmember supporting said electric heater and marking bars.

4. An instrument for melting waxy substances, comprising a tubularholder having a centrally located discharge nozzle at one end normallyclosed, an axial member in said holder and supported from the endopposite the nozzle, an electrical heating element larger in diameterthan said axial member secured to the end of said member, and locatedadjacent said nozzle, bars of the material to be melted securedlongitudinally to said axial member with their ends adjacent saidheating element, a spring for feeding bars to said heating element andmeans for opening the nozzle to release the melted material as theinstrument is used.

DANIEL H. SCHWEYER.

